Mount Isa Mayor Joyce McCulloch has spoken out against the proposed changes to Queensland’s election boundaries which will see Mount Isa expanded to include Charters Towers and the electorate renamed to Traeger.
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Cr McCulloch said she was unhappy with the proposed addition of four seats from 89 to 93 electorate.
“Queenslanders have to understand it will add in excess of $3 million a year to our already high cost of government,” Cr McCulloch said.
“That is to have four extra elected representatives for the south-east corner.”
Cr McCulloch said the north west was getting no benefit from the changes.
“Other than the name change, it is making our electorate a lot larger and adding 10,000 people to our electorate,” she said.
“This makes it harder for our elected member to work for us.”
She said Mount Isa City Council would respond to the Queensland Electoral Commission with its objections.
Member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter also voiced his concerns about the ability to effectively cover the new territory.
“Adequate representation means that each person has the opportunity to meet and shake hands with their local member,” he said.
“It’s a shame the new seats being created are closer to metropolitan areas, not in western areas where it’s already difficult for the local member to get around their massive electorates.”
Mr Katter said the proposed changes meant that the Mount Isa electorate will lose Diamantina and Winton Shire boundaries, with 2000 people combined, while taking in the Charters Towers Regional Council, with a population in 12,000 people.
“The major parties have got what they wanted, in particular the ALP,” he said.
Federal member Bob Katter also opposed the changes which sees the KAP second seat of Dalrymple disappear.
“If they can eliminate the voice of the people they can keep their cozy little two-party system forever,” Mr Katter said.
“So take Shane Knuth’s seat out from under him, break it up into 3 other electorates, make Robbie Katter’s so big he’ll die of exhaustion.”
The Electoral Commission Queensland has invited objections and comments to the proposal until March 27